The IOFS visit to Pakistan has resulted in strong and beneficial cooperation with the OIC and government institutions, which could lead to great projects.
On 11th November 2021, the IOFS and COMSTECH had an official meeting at the COMSTECH’s Headquarters. The meeting's agenda encompassed a range of aspects related to cooperation, joint activities, and plans.
H.E. Prof. Muhammad Iqbal Choudhary, COMSTECH Coordinator General, welcomed IOFS Director General H.E. Mr. Yerlan A. Baidaulet and the IOFS team, highlighting the significance of physical encounters to exchange perspectives on mutually relevant issues. The Action Plan between Institutions, which was implemented in 2021 was highlighted by the Coordinator General.
H.E. Director General of IOFS expressed appreciation for a high level of hospitality given to IOFS in Pakistan, especially by COMSTECH. The IOFS Director General congratulated the COMSTECH Coordinator General on receiving the highest prize "Mustafa Prize" for science and technology. H.E. Mr. Yerlan A. Baidaulet addressed the Coordinator General on the Secretariat's undertaking programs and activities by presenting various initiatives that would elevate institutional cooperation to a new level. Among new programmes the Head of IOFS focused on new elaborated programmes such “Climate Impact/Resource Management” and “Bio and Agri Tech Development” in the OIC region where COMSTECH is committed to be involved for the benefit of Member States.
The Professor expressed his complete support for all of the Director General's initiatives and affirmed COMSTECH's participation in all the activities, in addition, proposed to focus on malnutrition issue in OIC to be widely brought to the OIC agenda, IOFS-COMSTECH launch of few fellowships in various domain of agriculture and food security, as well as to conduct an event bringing all the media to educate them in terms of the importance and awareness of Food Security in OIC region.
On 11 November 2021, H.E. Mr. Yerlan A. Baidaulet, Director General of IOFS meets Dr. Akhtar A.Bughio, Director General of Pakistan Halal Authority (PHA) under the Ministry of Science and Technology of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan in Islamabad. The Director General of IOFS gave a brief overview of the organization's programmes, focusing on the implementation of the "Food Safety and Halal Food" initiative, which follows the "Gene to Fork" framework, promoting a food production process that completely excludes components and/or manufacturing methods which do not meet halal standards, from gene/seed selection to consumer.
The IOFS is invited to participate in the forthcoming Meeting of Halal Organizations of Islamic countries organized by PHA that will take place in a hybrid format from 5-10 December 2021. The parties also discussed reaching the mutual recognition of halal among countries, considering the issues of accreditation, certification, as well as the importance of the establishment of a regulatory system/organ for any halal entities for further unimpeded work.
On 12 November 2021, H.E. Mr. Yerlan A. Baidaulet, Director General of IOFS had a courtesy visit to Mr.Farukh Iqbal Khan, Director General of Division for EC and OIC Cooperation at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. Director General of IOFS has given very detailed information on the Strategic framework that comprises 16 programmes and IOFS Vision 2031, focusing on Food crises response issues that IOFS actively works on. Humanitarian programs such as “Food Security Reserves”, “Flour for Humanity”, and “Qurbani Meat” are aimed to assist constantly and in times of need, specifically concerning helping Afghanistan in a current critical situation. As H.E. Mr. Yerlan A. Baidaulet stated “Multilateral cooperation brings the synergy of all efforts of countries” highlighting the importance of Regional cooperation and support would lead to the best outcomes.
The Director General of Division for EC and OIC Cooperation extend his support in cooperating with IOFS and valued all efforts in assisting OIC Member countries encompassing various issues under the mandate of IOFS.
On the same day, H.E. Mr. Syed Fakhar Imam, Federal Minister of National Food Security & Research of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan received H.E. Mr. Yerlan A. Baidaulet, Director General of IOFS at the Minister’s Office to address subjects related to Pakistan.
Director General of IOFS highlighted the strongly built cooperation between IOFS and Pakistan appreciating H.E. Minister’s participation in the Fourth General Assembly of IOFS held on 8-9 September 2021. H.E. Mr. Yerlan A. Baidaulet also reported on all productive meetings held in Karachi and Islamabad within the visit to Pakistan, and briefly informed on IOFS programmes and active involvement of the OIC Member States, especially Pakistan representatives of agriculture field.
After a very fruitful discussion with H.E. Minister, the general meeting with the relevant entities subordinated to the Ministry of National Food Security & Research took place. The representatives of Agriculture Policy Institute (API), Department of Plant Protection (DPP), Federal Seed Certification and Registration Department (FSC&RD), Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC), Federal Water Management Cell (FWM), Pakistan Oilseed Development Board (PODB) and Pakistan Agricultural Storage & Services Corporation (PASSCO) have shown interest in IOFS programmes and expressed their willingness to participate in implementation processes to bring the human and institutional capacity, as well as share the best practices and technologies with OIC Member States. The Director General emphasized the potential of all Pakistan Agricultural Institutions attended the meeting and agreed to actively integrate their work with IOFS programmes.
